On this Day June 5 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1934 – Emmy-winning journalist and commentator Bill Moyers 1956 – Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G, born Kenny Gorelick 1964 – Best-selling author Rick Riordan (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” “The Kane Chronicles,” “The Maze of Bones”) 1967 – Actor Ron Livingston, best known for his roles in the movie “Office Space” and TV’s “Band of Brothers,” “The Practice” and “Sex and the City” 1971 – Actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, whose career began as lead singer of the rap group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (“Boogie Nights,” “Planet of the Apes,” “The Italian Job,” “The Departed,” “Max Payne,” “The Fighter,” “Ted,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriots Day,” “Instant Family”) 1974 – Actor Chad Allen (“Our House,” “My Two Dads,” “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) History Highlights 1933 – The U.S. goes off the gold standard, a monetary system in which currency is backed by gold, when Congress enacts a joint resolution nullifying the right of creditors to demand payment in gold. 1967 – Israel responds to an ominous build-up of Arab forces along its borders by launching simultaneous attacks against Egypt and Syria. And so begins the Six-Day War. 1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy is fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. He is just 42, four years younger than his brother, President John F. Kennedy, when he was assassinated in November 1963. 1981 – The “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that five people in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS. 1998 – More than 3,400 unionized General Motors (GM) workers at a Flint, Michigan plant begin a 54-day strike — the longest walkout at GM in nearly three decades. Later joined by more than 5,000 workers from a nearby plant, the strike causes parts shortages that force some 30 GM assembly plants to shut down. 2004 – Ronald Reagan, the Hollywood actor who became one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century and transformed the political landscape of an era with his vision of conservative government, dies at age 93 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 2012 – Prolific science fiction author Ray Bradbury, whose books include such classics as “The Martian Chronicles,” “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” dies at the age of 91. Musical Milestones 1956 – Elvis Presley introduces his new single, “Hound Dog,” on “The Milton Berle Show,” shocking a national TV audience with his suggestive hip movements. 1961 – Roy Orbison claims the top spot on the pop chart for a week with “Running Scared.” 1965 – The Beach Boys are at No. 1 on the singles chart for a second and final week with “Help Me, Rhonda.” 1976 – “Love Hangover,” by Diana Ross, begins its second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1983 – During a 48-date North American tour, U2 plays at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. The show is recorded and released as “U2 Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky.” 1993 – Janet Jackson is midway through an eight-week ride atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “That’s The Way Love Goes,” off her album “janet.” 1999 – Ricky Martin enjoys his fifth and final week as king of the pop chart with “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” The track picks up four Grammy nominations and helps ignite the Latin pop explosion. 2005 – Topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a third straight week is Usher with “Burn.” READ MORE
On this Day August 22 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1862 – Classical composer Claude Debussey (d. 1918) 1920 – Award-winning fantasy, science fiction, horror and mystery author Ray Bradbury, who wrote “The Martian Chronicles” and “Fahrenheit 451” (d. 2012) 1934 – U.S. Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr., nicknamed “Stormin’ Norman,” who commanded the American-led forces that crushed Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf War (d. 2012) 1939 – Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski 1939 – Emmy-winning actress Valerie Harper, who played Rhoda Morgenstern on TV’s “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and its spinoff series, “Rhoda” (d. 2019) 1947 – Actress Cindy Williams, who played Shirley in the 70s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” (d. 2023) 1963 – Singer-songwriter Tori Amos, who released her debut album “Little Earthquakes” in 1992 and whose first five albums went platinum in the U.S. 1967 – Emmy-winning actor Ty Burrell, best known for his role as Phil Dunphy on the ABC comedy series “Modern Family” 1973 – Actress-comedian Kristen Wiig (“Saturday Night Live,” “Knocked Up,” “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,” “Bridesmaids,” “Girl Most Likely,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “The Skeleton Twins,” “The Martian,” “Ghostbusters”) History Highlights 1851 – The yacht America, representing the young New York Yacht Club, wins the first America’s Cup. It would be well over 100 years before it was taken away from New York. 1902 – Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first U.S. president to ride in an automobile when he sets out from Connecticut on a driving tour of New England. 1906 – Way before the turntable and CD player are invented, the Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, New Jersey begins to manufacture the Victrola record player. The hand-cranked unit, with horn cabinet, sells for $200. 1950 – The United States Lawn Tennis Association (USLTA) accepts 23-year-old Althea Gibson into its annual championship at Forest Hills, New York, making her the first African-American player to participate in a U.S. national tennis competition. 1973 – President Richard Nixon appoints Henry Kissinger secretary of state. Kissinger helped ease relations with the Soviet Union and China, and negotiated an end to the Vietnam War, but remains a controversial figure for his role in American actions in Cambodia, Latin America and elsewhere. 1989 – The Texas Rangers’ Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher in Major League history to register 5,000 career strikeouts. Musical Milestones 1960 – Elvis Presley is in the middle of a five-week domination of the singles chart with “It’s Now or Never.” 1964 – “Where Did Our Love Go,” by The Supremes, starts a two-week hold on top of the Billboard Hot 100. It’s the girl group’s first No. 1 hit. 1968 – Bickering among The Beatles while recording “The White Album” prompts Ringo Starr to quit the band. “Back In the USSR” is recorded with Paul McCartney on drums and John Lennon on bass. News of Ringo’s departure is kept secret and he rejoins the band about two weeks later. 1970 – Bread’s “Make It With You” begins one week on top of the Billboard singles survey. It becomes the group’s only No. 1 hit. 1987 – “Who’s That Girl,” the title track of the movie of the same name, boosts Madonna to the top of the Hot 100 chart. 1992 – “End of the Road,” by Boyz II Men,” is in the second of what then was a record-breaking 13 weeks as a No. 1 single. The track goes on to capture two Grammy Awards. 1998 – Brandy & Monica hold the top spot on the pop chart with “The Boy is Mine.” 2009 – The Black Eyed Peas lay claim to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Gotta Feeling.” READ MORE
On this Day June 5 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1934 – Emmy-winning journalist and commentator Bill Moyers 1956 – Grammy-winning saxophonist Kenny G, born Kenny Gorelick 1964 – Best-selling author Rick Riordan (“Percy Jackson & the Olympians,” “The Kane Chronicles,” “The Maze of Bones”) 1971 – Actor-producer Mark Wahlberg, whose career began as lead singer of the rap group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch (“Boogie Nights,” “Planet of the Apes,” “The Italian Job,” “The Departed,” “Max Payne,” “The Fighter,” “Ted,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriots Day”) 1974 – Actor Chad Allen (“Our House,” “My Two Dads,” “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman”) History Highlights 1967 – Israel responds to an ominous build-up of Arab forces along its borders by launching simultaneous attacks against Egypt and Syria. And so begins the Six-Day War. 1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy is fatally shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. He is just 42, four years younger than his brother, President John F. Kennedy, when he was assassinated in November 1963. 1981 – The “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that five people in Los Angeles have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, in what turns out to be the first recognized cases of AIDS. 2004 – Ronald Reagan, the Hollywood actor who became one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century and transformed the political landscape of an era with his vision of conservative government, dies at age 93 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. 2012 – Prolific science fiction author Ray Bradbury, whose books include such classics as “The Martian Chronicles,” “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” dies at the age of 91. Musical Milestones 1956 – Elvis Presley introduces his new single, “Hound Dog,” on “The Milton Berle Show,” shocking a national TV audience with his suggestive hip movements. 1961 – Roy Orbison claims the top spot on the pop chart for a week with “Running Scared.” 1965 – The Beach Boys are at No. 1 on the singles chart for a second and final week with “Help Me, Rhonda.” 1976 – “Love Hangover,” by Diana Ross, begins its second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 1983 – During a 48-date North American tour, U2 plays at Red Rocks Amphitheater near Denver. The show is recorded and released as “U2 Live At Red Rocks: Under A Blood Red Sky.” 1993 – Janet Jackson is mid-way through an eight-week ride atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “That’s The Way Love Goes,” off her album “janet.” 1999 – Ricky Martin enjoys his fifth and final week as king of the pop chart with “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” 2005 – Topping the Billboard Hot 100 for a third straight week is Usher with “Burn.” READ MORE
On this Day May 26 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1886 – Singer-actor Al Jolson, born Asa Yoelson in Russia and dubbed “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” (d. 1950) 1907 – Oscar-winning actor John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison and nicknamed “The Duke,” who starred in many Westerns, including “The Searchers” and “True Grit” (d. 1979) 1920 – Vocalist Peggy Lee (“”Mañana,” “Lover,” “Fever”) (d. 2002) 1926 – Legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis (d. 1991) 1948 – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac member Stevie Nicks, best recognized for her vocals in the hits “Dreams,” “Rhiannon” and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” 1951 – First American woman astronaut in space, Sally Ride (d. 2012) 1962 – Comedian-actor Bobcat Goldthwait 1962 – Emmy-winning actress Genie Francis, most remembered for her role as Laura on the ABC soap “General Hospital” 1964 – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz (“Let Love Rule,” “Mama Said,” “American Woman”) 1966 – Actress Helena Bonham Carter (“A Room With a View,” “Howard’s End,” “Fight Club,” “Big Fish,” The King’s Speech,” “Les Misérables”) 1975 – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-rapper-producer Lauryn Hill, formerly of The Fugees (“Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” “Everything Is Everything”) History Highlights 1897 – The first copies of the classic vampire novel “Dracula,” by Irish writer Bram Stoker, appear in London bookshops. 1927 – It’s the end of the road for Ford’s iconic Model T automobile. The 15 millionth and last Model T Ford rolls off a Detroit assembly line with Ford founder Henry Ford in the front passenger seat and his son, Edsel, behind the wheel. The touring car, with hand-stamped VIN 15000000, marked the symbolic end of the groundbreaking automobile’s 19-year production run. 1953 – The first 3-D sci-fi movie premieres in Los Angeles: “It Came from Outer Space,” based on a Ray Bradbury story. 1959 – Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves before losing, 1-0, in the 13th. It’s the first time a pitcher throws more than nine perfect innings in major league history. 1969 – Apollo 10 returns to Earth after a successful eight-day test of all the components needed for the forthcoming first manned moon landing. During descent from its lunar orbit, the spacecraft sets a record for the fastest speed attained by a manned vehicle. 1972 – Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev and U.S. President Richard Nixon, meeting in Moscow, sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) agreements. 1977 – The so-called “human fly,” George Willig, scales the South Tower of New York City’s World Trade Center by attaching himself to a window washing track and walking straight to the top and into the custody of waiting police officers. It takes Willig three and a half hours to make the climb and costs him $1.10 in fines — one penny per floor. Musical Milestones 1962 – Clarinetist Acker Bilk becomes the first British artist to top the Billboard pop chart when his instrumental, “Stranger on the Shore,” reaches No. 1. 1969 – John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin an eight-day “bed-in” for peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, during which they record “Give Peace a Chance” in a room filled with reporters, photographers and supporters. The couple held a similar bed-in two months earlier in Amsterdam. 1973 – The hard rock instrumental “Frankenstein,” by The Edgar Winter Group, reaches the top of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s only No. 1 hit. One week later, it is bumped by Paul McCartney’s “My Love.” 1979 – Peaches & Herb begin their fourth and final week on top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Reunited.” 1984 – “Let’s Hear It For the Boy,” by Deniece Williams, from the soundtrack to the Kevin Bacon movie “Footloose,” is on top of the singles chart. 1990 – Madonna’s “Vogue,” off the “I’m Breathless” album, is in the middle of a three-week domination of the Billboard pop chart. 2001 – “All For You,” by Janet Jackson, begins its seventh and final week as a chart-topper. 2007 – “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’),” by T-Pain featuring Yung Joc, is the No. 1 single. READ MORE